"I am using this illustration in my sermon
tomorrow: Mark 1:1-8 (Baptism of our Lord). In Toy Story 2, Woody is
kidnapped and taken to the apartment of the "bad" toy
store owner. Woody finds himself in a dark room, all alone. And then
he hears the voice of a young girl who recognizes him (sorry, I
can't remember her name!) This toy, a similarly dressed western
cowgirl, gets very excited that "Woody" is finally here.
Woody asks, "How do you know me?" She replies, "Do
you not know who you are?" She then turns on a light and shows
Woody the shelves that are filled with Woody memorabilia. Woody
finds out he was a famous movie star. She shows him old cartoons and
Woody watches with great joy. So it is in baptism. God knows us
before we know who God is, and in this sacrament we are told who we
are....a child of God." (submitted by Kathryn Self, Plano TX)